Henderson announces new police chief: Meet LaTesha Watson |

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The City of Henderson has a new police chief, and her name is LaTesha Watson. Henderson City Manager Bob Murnane made the announcement late Friday morning.

Watson comes to the City of Henderson from Arlington, Texas where she was a deputy chief at the Arlington Police Department.

"Latesha Watson brings proven leadership skills, extensive law enforcement experience and a vision for building on the success of the Henderson Police Department to the role of Police Chief. As the next leader of our police force, her number one job will be making sure Henderson remains one of the safest cities in America," said Murnane. "We look forward to welcoming her to Henderson and to the innovative new ideas she will bring to the department from her more than two decades in the law enforcement field and strong academic background."

Watson began her law enforcement career in 1994 with the Hutchins Police Department in Hutchins, Texas and worked for the Lewisville Police Department in Lewisville, Texas before joining the Arlington, Texas Police Department in 2002. She was named Deputy Chief in 2014, becoming the youngest person to hold that position in the history of the Arlington Police Department.

In addition to her law enforcement experience, Watson has a strong academic background that includes earning a Ph.D. in Management and Organizational Leadership, a Master of Science in Criminology and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She is also an accomplished researcher who has studied police management, the history of policing and diversity issues in law enforcement.

An official start date for Watson hasn't been given because she still has to be ratified by the Mayor and City Council at an upcoming City Council meeting before she can assume the official title of Police Chief.

The search for the Henderson Police Chief was launched in June 2017, and nearly 90 applicants were screened for the position.